'On a flat track, he is almost like Chris Gayle' - Faf du Plessis' massive statement on Abhishek Sharma after heroics vs DC

Published - 22 Apr 2026, 16:33 IST | Updated - 22 Apr 2026, 16:33 IST

Abhishek Sharma was struggling with his batting form during the 2026 T20 World Cup. However, the Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management backed him to the hilt, and he delivered in the final when it mattered the most. The Punjab batter smashed a belligerent half-century at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to help India become three-time T20 World Cup champions.

During the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Abhishek has gone from strength to strength, and on Tuesday, April 21, he slammed a blistering century against the Delhi Capitals, orchestrating a 47-run win for the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. During his epic knock, Abhishek smashed 10 fours and 10 sixes, finishing unbeaten on 135 off 68 balls. He had a strike rate of 198.53.

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis compared Abhishek's ability to dominate bowlers on flat tracks to that of the legendary Caribbean batter Chris Gayle.

"Unbelievable batsmanship. The power is back. Also, you look at the second over of off spin and I was like, 'the pitch looked amazing'. It just skidded on, no swing, no grip. So, on a night like that is when you feel Abhishek Sharma is elite because there is nothing on offer. He is just a bully if it's a good pitch. And that's what that opening pair has done over the last 2-3 seasons. On a flat track, he is almost like a Chris Gayle. He is that dangerous while batting," du Plessis said during a discussion on ESPNcricinfo Timeout.

Former Australian skipper Aaron Finch also hailed Abhishek for his exhilarating century. The former mentioned that the power Abhishek generates, despite not being strongly built, is amazing.

"His ability to slice the ball regardless of how you set the field on the off side [is amazing]. He's got such beautiful hands and almost laconic swing of the bat, which allows him to manipulate the ball wherever he needs. The power is ridiculous for a guy who is not a brute. He is not Chris Gayle build. Love watching him," Finch stated.

Abhishek's remarkable knock helped Sunrisers post a mammoth first-innings total of 242/2. In reply, Eshan Malinga bagged a four-for as Delhi Capitals were restricted to 195/9.